River stage
Forestburg, James River
- River level
- 4.67 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.05 ft
- Recent high
- 8.35 ft
- Recent low
- 4.65 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS FORS2
- 30-day change
- -0.15 ft
- Average
- 6.07 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 20.61 ft
In brief
The James River at Forestburg, SD read 4.67 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 5.33 ft below action stage. That is 0.15 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge FORS2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.61 ft | 1997-04-06 |
| 2 | 20.27 ft | 2011-03-25 |
| 3 | 19.14 ft | 2010-03-25 |
| 4 | 18.93 ft | 2007-05-08 |
| 5 | 18.84 ft | 2001-04-10 |
| 6 | 18.00 ft | 1920-03-29 |
| 7 | 18.00 ft | 1922-03-24 |
| 8 | 17.37 ft | 2019-04-25 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
The lowest banks begin to flood
- 12.00 ft
Significant portions of the floodplain begin to flood and a couple county or township roads may begin to flood.
- 13.00 ft
241st St begins to flood where it crosses the river.
- 14.50 ft
Many of the county roads in the area are impassible including 407th, 240th, 241st and 243rd and some roads are under water for as much as 1/2 mile.
- 16.00 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauge on 407th and the road north of the bridge may be flooded.
- 18.00 ft
County Road 21 in northern Davison County will be flooded and water may begin to impact the gauge house.
- 19.00 ft
Portions of Hwy 34 begin to flood and the bridge on 407th at the gauge is overtopped.
- 20.00 ft
405th Ave is flooded and thus most river crossings are impassible resulting in significant travel disruptions.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the James River flooding at Forestburg?
No. The James River at Forestburg is at 4.67 ft, 5.33 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Forestburg?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 10 ft, minor flooding 12 ft, moderate flooding 14.5 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the James River has been at Forestburg?
The highest crest on record is 20.61 ft, on 1997-04-06.
Is the James River high or low right now at Forestburg?
At 4.67 ft it is higher than 2% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge FORS2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06477000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.